The following is a list of characters from the novel The Deer and the Cauldron by Jin Yong. Some of these characters previously appeared in another novel Sword Stained with Royal Blood, which is also written by Jin Yong. Some of these characters are based on historical figures, such as the Kangxi Emperor, Oboi, Wu Sangui, Chen Yuanyuan, Princess Changping, Zheng Keshuang, Feng Xifan, Shi Lang, Galdan Boshugtu Khan, Sophia Alekseyevna, Desi Sangye Gyatso, and Wu Liuqi, as well as Zha Jizuo, a purported ancestor of Jin Yong (Zha Liangyong).
Wei Xiaobao and his family Wei Xiaobao () is the witty, sly and illiterate protagonist who was born in a brothel in Yangzhou in 17th-century China during the Qing dynasty. He bumbles his way into the imperial palace and has a fateful encounter with the young Kangxi Emperor, with whom he develops a friendship. By sheer luck and wit, he makes a series of accomplishments that have an impact on significant historical events during that era. Wei Chunfang () is Wei Xiaobao's mother and a prostitute from a brothel in Yangzhou.
The seven wives Mu Jianping () is Mu Jiansheng's younger sister and a member of the House of Prince Mu. Due to a conflict between the House of Prince Mu and the Tiandihui, she is taken hostage by the Tiandihui and sent to the imperial palace to be placed under Wei Xiaobao's watch. Later, she is captured by the Mystic Dragon Cult and forced to join them. She is the second youngest and most naïve of the seven. Fang Yi () is Liu Dahong's apprentice and a servant of the House of Prince Mu. She is initially in a romantic relationship with Liu Yizhou, who also serves the House of Prince Mu. After a failed assassination attempt on the Kangxi Emperor, she is wounded and forced to rely on Wei Xiaobao to keep her safe in the imperial palace. Wei Xiaobao then uses every opportunity to make advances on her and force her to promise to marry him if he saves Liu Yizhou, who has been captured by imperial guards. After seeing how committed she is to Liu Yizhou, Wei Xiaobao wavers between giving up on her and insisting that she keeps her promise. However, Fang Yi later ends her relationship with Liu Yizhou after seeing how cowardly he is, and decides she wants to be with Wei Xiaobao after realising that he is more trustworthy despite his flaws. At one point, she is captured by the Mystic Dragon Cult and forced to join them and lure Wei Xiaobao into traps. Wei Xiaobao manages to save her with Su Quan's help. Shuang'er () is a servant of the Zhuang family of Huzhou and an apprentice of He Tishou. The matriarch tells her to follow Wei Xiaobao and serve him – as an expression of her gratitude to him for avenging their family by killing Oboi – and she initially serves as his bodyguard before becoming one of his wives. Among the seven, she is the youngest and the most loyal. At one point, she becomes sworn siblings with Wu Liuqi. Su Quan () is Hong Antong's wife who is adept in using her beautiful looks to seduce men and bend them to her will. As Hong Antong had forced her to marry him, she harbours a grudge against him and has been trying to consolidate power within the cult by promoting younger members to replace the older ones who are more loyal to Hong Antong. As Hong Antong needs to have sex with virgins in order to release excess neigong, he has never consummated his marriage with Su Quan. Wei Xiaobao flatters and flirts with her during his first encounter with the Mystic Dragon Cult. Later, she disguises herself as a prostitute to lure Wei Xiaobao into a trap in a brothel, but he sees through her guise easily as she is unfamiliar with the ways of a brothel. He tricks her into drinking drugged wine, rendering her unconscious, and places her on the bed along with Fang Yi, Mu Jianping, Zeng Rou, Shuang'er and Ake; and randomly has sex with some of them. The next time she and Wei Xiaobao meet, her attitude is warmer, and it is later revealed that she is pregnant with his child. She decides to follow Wei after the Mystic Dragon Cult is destroyed in its internal conflict. She is the most powerful in martial arts and the oldest among the seven. Princess Jianning () is a younger sister of the Kangxi Emperor. It turns out later that she is not related to the emperor because her biological mother is Mao Dongzhu, who has been impersonating the empress dowager. Of the seven wives, she is the most violent, sadistic, and spoiled. She loves Wei Xiaobao because he is the only one who dares to stand up to her, and she likes to engage in BDSM activities with him. When the emperor finds out that Jianning is not his real sister, he arranges for Jianning to be sent to Yunnan to marry Wu Yingxiong in a political marriage. Before the wedding, she drugs Wei Xiaobao, strips him naked, whips him, and tries to use candles to burn his hair. He gives in to her seductive advances and sleeps with her that night. The next day, Wei Xiaobao gives her one of the pistols he received from Wu Sangui as a gift. She tricks Wu Yingxiong into going into her room, points the pistol at him, and orders him to strip before castrating him. The marriage still proceeds as planned although Jianning continues to have an ongoing affair with Wei Xiaobao. She eventually reveals that she is pregnant with Wei Xiaobao's child and they elope. The emperor later issues a decree declaring that Jianning is Wei Xiaobao's formal spouse. Zeng Rou () is from the Wangwu Sect. She attempts to assassinate Wei Xiaobao in a military camp and catches him off guard while he is gambling with some officers. However, Wei Xiaobao turns the gambling game to his advantage and outsmarts her by cheating in the game. He then lets them go and earns Zeng Rou's admiration and affection. Zeng Rou is the most polite and cultured among the seven. Ake () is the daughter of Chen Yuanyuan and Li Zicheng. She was kidnapped and raised by Jiunan, who trained her to kill Wu Sangui, who is initially believed to be Ake's father. Ake has a crush on Zheng Keshuang previously but leaves him after he reveals his true colours. She is Wei Xiaobao's most beautiful wife.
The three children Shuangshuang (; "doubles") is Wei Xiaobao's daughter and first child, born to Princess Jianning. She was originally named Bandeng (; "wooden bench"). Hutou (; "tiger head") is Wei Xiaobao's first son and second child, born to Ake. Tongchui (; "bronze hammer") is Wei Xiaobao's second son and third child, born to Su Quan.
Qing Empire The Kangxi Emperor () is the ruler of the Qing Empire. First introduced as Xiaoxuanzi (), he forges a close friendship with Wei Xiaobao. He is a wise, knowledgeable, and logical ruler. The Empress Dowager () is the Kangxi Emperor's stepmother. She was immobilised and imprisoned in a wardrobe in her room by Mao Dongzhu, who has been impersonating her until she is discovered and freed by Wei Xiaobao.
Imperial court officials Oboi () is one of the Four Regents who govern the Qing Empire when the Kangxi Emperor is still a child. With Wei Xiaobao's help, the emperor ousts Oboi from power and imprisons him. Wei Xiaobao later kills Oboi by accident. Prince Kang () is a cousin of the Kangxi Emperor. He befriends Wei Xiaobao. Songgotu () is Sonin's son who serves as Vice Minister of Personnel, First Class Imperial Guard, and Grand Secretary. He befriends Wei Xiaobao and becomes sworn brothers with him. Batai () is the Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Zhonghe Hall. Wei Zhouzuo () is the Grand Secretary of the Baohe Hall. Mishan () is the Minister of Revenue. Duikana () is the Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall. Du Lide () is a Grand Secretary. Tuhai () is a Grand Secretary. Mingju () is the Minister of War. Jelken () is the Vice Minister of Rites. Daerli () is the Secretary of the Hanlin Academy. Moluo () is the Minister of Justice. Li Wei () is a Grand Secretary. Isangga () is the Minister of Personnel. Li Lei () is the Minister of Revenue and Grand Secretary of the Baohe Hall. Tong Guogang () is a First Class Duke and Han commander of the Bordered Yellow Banner. He is also the Kangxi Emperor's maternal uncle. Ledehong () Feng Pu () Wang Xi () Huang Ji () Wu Zhengzhi () Zong Deyi () Adam Schall von Bell () Ferdinand Verbiest ()
Imperial guards Duolong () is the Supervisor of the Imperial Guards and a close friend of Wei Xiaobao. At one point, Wei reluctantly kills him in order to save the Tiandihui members who are under siege by imperial guards. It turns out later that he has survived and does not know that Wei had attempted to kill him earlier. Rui Dong (), nicknamed "Undefeated Iron Palm" (), is the Deputy Supervisor of the Imperial Guards. Mao Dongzhu sends him to kill Wei Xiaobao but Wei outsmarts him and kills him. Chaerzhu () is a cavalry commander of the Plain Yellow Banner. Zhang Kangnian () Zhao Qixian () Shi Laoliu () is killed by Mao Dongzhu. Xiong Laoer () is killed by Mao Dongzhu. Ge Tong () is killed by the Wangwu Sect members. Captain Gua () is killed by Chen Jinnan. Shi Song (), nicknamed "Black Dragon Whip" (), tries to arrest Mao Shiba. Wei Xiaobao kills him and saves Mao Shiba. Fuchun () is a cavalry officer. Ajichi () is a vanguard commander. Commander Tai () is a vanguard officer.
Eunuchs and palace maids Hai Dafu () is a fifth-class eunuch serving as deputy supervisor of the imperial kitchen. He is also a member of the Kongtong Sect and has received a secret mission from the Shunzhi Emperor to investigate Consort Donggo's death. He kidnaps Wei Xiaobao and brings him into the imperial palace. Later, he is killed by Mao Dongzhu in a fight after confirming his suspicion that she murdered Consort Donggo. Xiaoguizi () is a young eunuch serving under Hai Dafu. Wei Xiaobao kills him and impersonates him and continues serving under Hai Dafu. Eunuch Wu () is in charge of the imperial study. Wen Youdao () and Wen Youfang () are eunuchs serving in the imperial study. Pingwei () Ruichu () is Mao Dongzhu's personal handmaiden. Dong Jinkui () is a eunuch serving as Mao Dongzhu's messenger. He is killed by Wei Xiaobao.
Defectors from Tungning Shi Lang () is a naval officer of Tungning. After the Tungning ruler Zheng Jing executes his family, he defects to the Qing Empire and meets Wei Xiaobao, who recommends him as a talent to the Kangxi Emperor because of his expertise in naval warfare. He leads the Qing navy against Tungning during the Battle of Penghu. Lin Xingzhu () Hong Chao () He You ()
Others Wu Zhirong () is the governor of Yangzhou. He played a key role in the massacre of the Zhuang family of Huzhou many years ago. Shuang'er recognises him and begs Wei Xiaobao to help her avenge her family. Wei then frames him for collaborating with Wu Sangui and has him arrested and sent to Huzhou, where he is killed by the widows of the Zhuang family. Jiang Baisheng () is a military officer serving under Prince Kang. Huang Fu () is a naval officer. Zhao Liangdong () is a military officer who leads Qing forces to suppress Wu Sangui's rebellion. He becomes Viceroy of Yun-Gui and Minister of War later. Ma You () is a governor. Mu Tianyan () is a chief secretary. Lergiyen () is a prince and general who leads Qing forces to suppress Wu Sangui's rebellion. Zhang Yong () is a provincial military commander in Yunnan. Wang Jinbao () is a military officer stationed in Yunnan. Sun Sike () is a military officer stationed in Yunnan. Major General Peng () is a military officer stationed on the island where Wei Xiaobao goes into self-exile. Vice Admiral Lu () is Shi Lang's deputy. Bahai () is a general stationed in Ningguta. Sabusu () is a general stationed in Heilongjiang. Vice Admiral Ban () oversees the construction of naval weapons. Peng Chun () Ma La () Lang Tan () Aerni () Ma Qi ()
Characters mentioned by name only The Grand Empress Dowager () is the Kangxi Emperor's grandmother.